Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden try to fight censorship with bipartisan JAWBONE Act

In a significant move to protect free speech, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have unveiled the JAWBONE Act, a proposed piece of legislation aimed at curbing government overreach in dictating content for broadcasters and tech platforms. This initiative seeks to empower individuals to take legal action against federal officials who attempt to influence or coerce these entities into restricting speech. The Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act would make it illegal for federal agencies and their employees to pressure any broadcasters or providers of online services, including AI platforms, to alter their content. The bill targets instances such as the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr's reported efforts to exert pressure on television networks and the scrutiny faced by social media companies and AI developers. One of the most notable aspects of the JAWBONE Act is its provision for a private right of action. This means individuals whose freedoms of speech are compromised could seek compensatory damages in court against government officials responsible for such actions. Furthermore, state attorneys general would have the authority to enforce the law through civil actions designed to protect citizens from governmental censorship. Senator Cruz emphasized the necessity of this legislation, stating, "Jawboning occurs when the government pressures private companies to censor speech protected by the First Amendment." He argued that accountability is crucial, especially in light of claims that the Biden administration has utilized the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to pressure tech companies into silencing dissent regarding vaccine mandates and election integrity. Adding to the discussion, Senator Wyden criticized past administrations, including Donald Trump’s, for their attempts to intimidate broadcasters and cable companies over programming they disapproved of. He remarked, "Jawboning isn’t partisan, and it isn’t new," highlighting that much of American discourse, spanning TV news to social media, is filtered through corporations that may be vulnerable to government pressure. A representative for Wyden indicated that the scope of the bill extends beyond the examples cited in their joint announcement, potentially addressing situations where the Trump administration pressured app stores to remove certain applications.